Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a rare and striking display of near-unanimity, 14 out of 15 members of the United Nations Security Council issued a joint statement on Wednesday calling for an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, along with the urgent release of all hostages. The United States was the sole member that refrained from endorsing the statement, continuing its diplomatic divergence on the crisis.
The statement, released amid mounting concern over the humanitarian collapse in Gaza, warned of an imminent famine and underscored that starvation is being used as a weapon of war, a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Members reaffirmed their support for the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which has confirmed famine-level conditions in parts of Gaza and forecasts worsening outcomes in the coming weeks.
The 14 council members emphasized that the crisis is man-made, not the result of natural disaster, and demanded that Israel immediately lift all restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza. They also called on Israel to refrain from expanding its military operations, warning that the situation had reached levels of suffering that can no longer be tolerated.
A Worsening Humanitarian Landscape
Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, gave a grim assessment of the situation on the ground, describing it as deteriorating to levels unseen in modern history. He stressed the need to recommit to a political process that could end the Israeli occupation and achieve a two-state solution.
“Gaza is sinking deeper into catastrophe,” Alakbarov told the Council, citing a growing toll of civilian deaths, mass displacement, and famine. He said ongoing Israeli strikes have hit shelters, hospitals, schools, and homes, while targeting of journalists has led to the deaths of at least 246 media workers since the conflict began.
He also warned of escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where settlement expansion, violence, and demolitions are undermining prospects for peace. Alakbarov closed his remarks by urging decisive action. “The choice has never been clearer: continue down the path of endless conflict or return to a political track toward peace.”
A Famine of Human Design
Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told the Council that famine has already begun in parts of Gaza, particularly in the north, and is expected to spread to areas like Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. Over 500,000 people are currently experiencing catastrophic food insecurity, and that figure could exceed 640,000 in just weeks.
More than one million people are now facing emergency or crisis levels of hunger. Among the most vulnerable are children and mothers: at least 132,000 children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition by mid-2026, and over 43,000 are at immediate risk of death. The number of pregnant and breastfeeding women facing severe nutritional stress is projected to triple from 17,000 to 55,000.
Msuya emphasized that this disaster was not caused by drought or natural catastrophe, but by deliberate policies and military actions. “This is a man-made crisis,” she stated. She stressed that using starvation as a method of warfare and attacking the means of civilian survival such as food, water, and agriculture is strictly prohibited under international law.
She concluded with a direct appeal: failure to act now will bring consequences that cannot be undone. She urged the Security Council and the broader international community to act immediately by calling for a ceasefire, releasing hostages without delay, protecting civilians, ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access, and restoring the flow of commercial goods into Gaza.
United States Isolated
The near-unanimous statement from the Security Council members further isolates the United States diplomatically. While Washington has advocated for temporary pauses in fighting and limited aid delivery, it continues to offer military and political support to Israel, drawing growing criticism from allies and international observers.
Repeated U.S. vetoes have blocked more forceful Security Council resolutions aimed at ending the conflict. Critics warn that the U.S. stance risks damaging its credibility on the global stage and weakening the authority of international humanitarian law.
A Moment of Reckoning
As famine looms and diplomatic patience runs thin, the call for immediate and decisive action has become louder. While the path toward a negotiated resolution remains fraught, the Security Council’s growing consensus signals a potential turning point. For Gaza’s civilians trapped in conditions the UN calls catastrophic—every day without action brings more irreversible loss.
